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Health Care

The state of Massachusetts requires all international students to have health insurance from either their home embassy or a U.S. company. Foreign health insurance policies are not considered to be comparable and therefore are not acceptable. You will automatically be billed for the health insurance policy which is offered to students through Boston College (see website above for information about the BC health insurance). Do not enroll in a foreign health insurance plan, as you will then have duplicate coverage and will not be able to receive a refund.

Boston College Health Insurance Student Plan

Boston College is pleased to announce that the Blue Cross Blue Shield Student Blue Plan has been renewed and will continue to be offered to all eligible BC students for the 2011-2012 policy year, effective August 7, 2011. The Student Blue Plan provides comprehensive health insurance that includes access to Blue Cross Blue Shield's networks and pharmacies nationwide, a fitness benefit, as well as reimbursement for designated weight loss programs and access to their "Living Healthy Naturally" discount savings program. The annual cost is $2,108. Your student account will be charged $966 for coverage from August 7, 2011, through January 8, 2012, and $1,142 for coverage from January 9, 2012, through August 6, 2012.

International students are not eligible to waive the student insurance plan unless they are enrolled in a plan underwritten by a U.S.-based insurance carrier. International students are not eligible to waive their insurance online. They will need to submit a written waiver form and documentation of proof of coverage. The waiver form can be downloaded from the Office of Student Services website at www.bc.edu/ssforms. All waiver forms must be submitted by September 14, 2012 for the academic year and by January 25, 2013 for the spring semester only. Students who do not complete a waiver prior to the deadline will automatically be enrolled in and charged the student only premium for the Student Blue Plan.

J-1 exchange visitor students only:

The Department of State requires that all J-1 exchange visitor students and their dependents obtain health insurance for the duration of their program which meets the minimum criteria as is described in the enclosed handout. The Boston College student health insurance plan, administered through Blue Cross Blue Shield, meets these minimum requirements. Students will automatically be enrolled and billed for the Boston College medical insurance at their time of registration. Insured students have the option of enrolling their eligible dependents. You may download the form from www.bc.edu/ssforms. You may also enroll dependents online at koster web. The deadline to enroll dependents is September 14, 2012, for the fall semester and January 25, 2013, for the spring semester. Enrollment forms received after that date will not be accepted.

Any J-1 exchange visitor who fails to maintain the insurance coverage, or makes a material misrepresentation to Boston College concerning such coverage, will be in violation of his/her immigration status and subject to termination as a J-1.

Incoming Student Health Forms

Massachusetts law requires all full-time students to have proof of immunizations against measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus and diphtheria. Undergraduate students will also have to show proof of Hepatitis B immunization. In order to show proof of vaccinations, incoming students must submit health history and immunization forms.
ALL FORMS MUST BE RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE START OF CLASSES!!! Failure to submit your forms will result in a hold on your register for the next semester and an administrative fee of $65 will be charged to your student account. Forms can be downloaded from the Health Services website.